Arkansas Dentistry & Braces set to open clinicA representative of Arkansas Dentistry & Braces confirmed Wednesday that a clinic is being built on West Main Street in Russellville. The corporate office of Arkansas Dentistry & Braces is located in Fayetteville, and there are 16 clinics throughout Arkansas: Benton, Bentonville, Brinkley, Blytheville, Clarksville, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Forrest City, two in Jonesboro, Paragould, Sheridan, Siloam Springs, Van Buren and two in West Memphis. ...

Pope County Library summer reading programAs part of the Pope County Library Summer Reading Program, “Every hero has a story,” local children learned about the childhood and military career of Zachary Pryor and his service dog, Juliette. Each week, children learn about local heroes in the community and how they can be heroes in their everyday lives. The Pope County Library has two more weeks of programs for the Summer Reading Program. For more information, call 479-968-4368.

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The Courier/Joshua MashonThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Three candidates file for spot on Dover School BoardBefore candidate filing for school board elections came to a close at noon on Tuesday, another challenger threw his hat in the ring for incumbent Michael Robbins’ position on the Dover School Board. Mark O. Evans filed in opposition to Robbins on June 30, the same day the incumbent made his bid for re-election official. On Monday, Joel Barber added his name to the list of candidates seeking to replace Robbins in Dover. Incumbent Shawn Rooke fi...

Community photo: Arkansas Municipal LeagueThe Arkansas Municipal League at its 81st Convention, held June 24-26 in Little Rock, honored Alderman Bill Eaton with the Adrian L. White Municipal Leadership Award. The award was presented during the Awards and New Officers’ Luncheon by 2014-2015 League President and Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola. The Adrian White award is given to municipal officials who have served with distinction and dedication to the League’s boards, councils, or commi...

Volunteers needed for river cleanupRecent rains and statewide floods have led to an abnormally high Arkansas River flow, but volunteers who plan to remove trash from the river and park areas on Saturday aren’t letting it put a damper on their efforts. Registration for the fifth annual Arkansas River Cleanup Day at Lake Dardanelle State Park will begin at 8 a.m., and the cleanup will last until 10:30, with a hot dog lunch provided for the volunteers at 11 in the grassy area acro...

Rebel ride not without controversy Tyler Titsworth spent Monday counting food donations for the Main Street Mission given at the Pope County Rebel Ride on Sunday, which saw around 700 vehicles sporting Confederate flags, decals and signs in support of what the group calls “southern heritage.” Titsworth delivered 1,088 cans, around 150 dried foods, an unspecified amount of baby food, $106 and a stack of clothes to Main Street Mission. For him, the delivery sent a very clear mess...

Feeding the River Valley's kidsKristin Foster broke away from a quick interview in the humid, old Russellville Gardner Junior High building to fetch canned strawberries and more bags. Everyone bustled about in an ordered frenzy, sacking up food to feed more than 600 youths throughout the Arkansas River Valley. Two years ago Foster and other community members from various churches in Russellville started the River Valley Food 4 Kids program, which operates for 10 weeks durin...

'We're going to wake Russellville up'Big Dwayne and Little Dwaine know their stuff — and their stuff goes boom. Dwayne Roberts and Dwaine Millsaps are the unsung heroes of Russellville’s Fourth of July firework show. You won’t see them, but you will see their explosions across the night sky in radiant showers of evanescent colors. “Everyone better be settled in by the time we start shooting at 9:25 because once we start shooting, we aren’t stopping for anything other than an emer...

Problem: Enforcing vicious animal ordinanceThe Pope County Quorum Court's (PCQC) vicious/uncontrolled animals committee met for the second time Tuesday following its June 18 meeting about enforcing proposed amendments to Pope County’s current animal ordinance. County attorney Jeff Phillips was supposed to sit down with the committee and make sure any prospective changes to the ordinance are legal and could be heard by the Quorum Court at its Thursday meeting, but Phillips was unable to...

Community photo: Farm Bureau adjustersFarm Bureau claims adjuster Chris Hooper (center) of Pope County was named the 2015 District Six Adjuster of the Year during the 62nd annual Farm Bureau Claims Conference June 4 in Little Rock. Jason Grady, District Six Claims Manager, and John Bonner (right), Vice President of Claims, presented the award to Hooper. The award is given annually to the adjuster in each of the nine claims districts who shows the most proficient job skills, outsta...

Labor statistics improveEmployment numbers and average weekly wages increased for the most part in Pope, Yell and Johnson counties in December 2014 and the fourth financial quarter, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ regular economic report. The total number of employed workers in Pope County rose from 26,626 in December 2013 to 27,156 in December 2014, a 2-percent increase of 530 individuals finding work. The average weekly wage in the county increase...

River Valley Rewind (July 01, 2015)PRODUCT PRICING and stocking were demonstrated for Sequoyah Elementary School special education students Tuesday at the IGA Food Liner on North Arkansas. Bob Shelton of Keebler Co. puts up some stock as the pupils observe. Behind them are Bob Ellison, store manager, and Mrs. Jim Leming, a member of the Junior Auxiliary, which sponsors monthly field trips for special education students of the Russellville School District.

News Briefs (June 30, 2015)Hughes Center Closed for Holiday The Hughes Community Center will be closed on Friday for observance of Independence Day. Senior activities Pope County Senior Wellness and Activity Center is holding three team bean bag baseball tournament at 10 a.m. this Wednesday at the Pope County Senior Wellness and Activity Center. Strong women will follow at 11 a.m. and practice for three team bean bag baseball will be at 1 p.m. Guest speaker at church Th...

Lightning bug catching contestCaughman’s Corner Preschool held its annual Lightning Bug Catching contest recently. It was an exciting and fun family activity that ended the children’s study of backyard creatures. Winners this year were Wyatt Hankins (tied for second place with 140), Bryley Ketchum (fourth place with 44), Nash Poore (first place with 167), Braelynn Freeman and Lainee Ivey (tied for second place with 140) and Raelynn Ward (third place with 118). Prizes were ...

Pope County issues first same-sex marriage licenseThe Pope County Clerk's office issued its first same-sex marriage license at 12:15 p.m. Friday following the United States Supreme Court's ruling that same-sex couples have a right to marry anywhere in the United States. County Clerk Laura McGuire said the clerk's office is under oath to obey and uphold the law. "Therefore, I will be issuing gender-neutral marriage licenses," she said. "We don't buy into political parties. No matter what we be...

Firework safetyWith the Fourth of July right around the corner, it’s almost time to celebrate America's birthday, most likely with fireworks. According to the Russellville Fire Department and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), each July Fourth thousands of people, often children and teens, are injured while using consumer fireworks. So it’s best to follow exact precautions and current ordinances in place. Within the Russellville city limits, an...

A spoonful of musical sugarResidents age 5-75 will take the stage tonight and each following night until Monday for a home-grown production of the musical "Mary Poppins" as The River Valley Arts Center’s annual summer musical production. Amy Tarpley, arts center director, said about 80 people from across the Arkansas River Valley will act and work as crew members for the musical, which the nonprofit center puts on each summer to engage the community in its productions. ...

Mini-storage facility permit approvedRussellville’s Planning Commission approved one item for the City Council to consider and tabled action on another item during Monday’s regular meeting at City Hall. Commissioners conducted a public hearing requesting review and approved a recommendation for a special-use permit to allow a mini-storage facility in the 3800 block of East Main Street. The request was submitted by Richard Van Ohlen. A request to rezone property from R-1 (single f...